Joyce in a spin over youth unemployment

Steven Joyce is blowing more hot air
over youth unemployment today than Mt Tongariro,” says
Su’a William Sio.

The Economic Development Minister has
claimed today that employers are backing the Government’s
initiatives to get young people into work.

“There are
currently 85,000 young people not in education, employment
or training – that is more than 18,000 more than when
National came to power. One in four young people aged 15-19
is unemployed.“If this is Steven Joyce’s idea of
success, what would he classify as
failure?

“Overwhelmingly employers said what was holding
them back from employing young people was a lack of skills.
Well, the Government has a woeful record on skills
training.

“Under National the number of Modern
Apprentices has fallen by almost 20 per cent. Industry
training has dropped and 80 per cent of the funding for
skills training in Canterbury has not been
spent.

“It’s also outrageous for Mr Joyce to state
that many employers favour a youth minimum wage – the fact
is that just 8 per cent of employers said it was a good
idea.

“Steven Joyce is in a desperate spin over youth
unemployment, but no amount of spin can hide the lack of
jobs and training,” says Su’a William
Sio.

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